PM Modi Begins Two-Day Visit to Laos for ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a two-day visit to Laos, where he will attend the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, following an invitation from his Laotian counterpart, Sonexay Siphandone, the current chair of ASEAN.
In his departure statement, PM Modi noted that the East Asia Summit presents an opportunity to discuss challenges related to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. He emphasized, “Today, I am departing for Vientiane, Lao PDR, at the invitation of Prime Minister Siphandone to participate in the summits. This year marks a decade of our Act East Policy, and I will collaborate with ASEAN leaders to review our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart future cooperation.”
The Prime Minister highlighted the close cultural and civilizational ties India shares with the region, particularly with Lao PDR, enriched by a common heritage of Buddhism and the Ramayana. “I look forward to my meetings with the Lao leadership to further strengthen our bilateral relations. I am confident this visit will deepen our engagement with ASEAN countries,” he added.
Modi is also expected to hold bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the summits in Vientiane. His visit underscores the significance of ASEAN member countries as a crucial pillar of India’s Act East policy and key partners in New Delhi’s Indo-Pacific Vision, which is strongly supported by the Prime Minister’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), “The ASEAN-India Summit will assess the progress of India-ASEAN relations under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and outline future cooperation. The East Asia Summit, a premier forum led by leaders, fosters strategic trust in the region and enables discussions on important regional issues.”
With Prime Minister Modi’s strong endorsement of ASEAN centrality and its outlook on the region, India has maintained that a strong and unified ASEAN is vital in the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific over the past decade.
